BLOQUE
Eclectic Prog • Spain
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A Spanish Progressive band with a few albums out. BLOQUE blend synth and Spanish vocals with electric and acoustic guitar (lots of electric) in a wide variety of styles (some people dislike this). They were strongly influenced by the jazz, flamenco, and hard rock (a cross between THIN LIZZY and BLACK SABBATH).
"Hombre Tierra Y Alma" is strongly of the 70's italian scene with a strong folk- influenced feel in a way similar to BANCO or PFM. "El Hijo del Alba" is also excellent. Their best is "Musica Para La Libertad" which includes the incredible instrumental tracks. Highly recommended!
DISCOGRAPHY:
1- Bloque (1978)
2- Hombre, Tierra y Alma (1979)
3- El Hijo del Alba (1980)
4- Música para la Libertad (1981)
5- Grandes Éxitos (1982)
6- En Directo (1999)
BLOQUE forum topics / tours, shows & news
BLOQUE Videos (YouTube and more)
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Buy BLOQUE Music
![]() | Bloque Warner Bros. 1998 | $2.99 $0.03 (used) |
![]() | Hombre, Tierra y Alma Flawed Gems | $16.22 |
![]() | El Hijo Del Alba Sony Bmg 1995 | $39.99 |
![]() | (VINYL LP) Hombre Tierra Y Alma CHAPA | $52.49 (used) |
![]() | El Hijo Del Alba by Bloque Import | $49.61 |

More places to buy BLOQUE music online
- DOUG LARSON IMPORTS — Buy prog rock music and rarities (Free shipping on orders over 10 cds)
- AmazonMP3: Search for BLOQUE DRM-Free MP3 Downloads @ Amazon.com MP3
- Try Amazon Prime Music (30-day free trial)
BLOQUE discography
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BLOQUE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
![]() 1978 |
![]() 1979 |
![]() 1980 |
![]() 1981 |
BLOQUE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
![]() 1999 |
BLOQUE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
BLOQUE Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
BLOQUE Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
BLOQUE Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

The album marks a number of positive upgrades in the sound of Bloque.Firstly, the Allman Brothers vibes are extremely reduced, if not absent, with the band heading for a more personal style.Second, the music sounds more compact, the songwriting more efficient and the instrumentation more balanced, even if the guitars remain the leading instruments.Third, while Bloque retain much of their Classic Rock variety, ''Hombre, tierra y alma'' sounds much more progressive and definitely more inspired than their debut.So, all these factors helped the Spanish combo come up with a fully convincing style, somewhere in the middle of Hard and Progressive Rock, where Juan Carlos Guitierrez'es flexible keyboard themes start to play a basic role in the music and the raw sound of Bloque is now often covered by a dash of symphonic grandieur.Additionally there are some great, lyrical moments in here and the dual guitar leads belong among the highlights of the album.Certain melodies here and there are absolutely great and memorable, the music contains lots of impressive twists and turns and the performances are pretty solid.The flipside of the original vinyl apparently contains the brightest material of the album, full of MEZQUITA-like intense synthesizers, dramatic instrumental guitar runs and some excellent electric solos, while there are even some dark-sounding choirs and ROBERT FRIPP-like guitar manifest, cleverly adapted in the hard sound of the band.
The potential became deep inspiration.Bloque's second effort is a great monument of Spanish Hard Prog and Classic Rock with 100% enjoyable material, led by some great guitar parts and the upgraded keyboard lines.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
stefro
Prog Reviewer

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

Despite being around since 1973 and having a good live activity,BLOQUE didn't release anything until 1978.The band got together in Santander under the forces of bassist Luis Pastor, guitarist/vocalist Juan Jose Respuela, drummer Francisco Baños and guitarist/vocalist Sixto Ruiz, but it was the arrival of keyboardist Juan Carlos Gutierrez, which gave the band a richer and more elaborate sound.BLOQUE played in various important festivals,among them a couple of great gigs in Leon and Burgos and finally released their self- titled debut in 1978 on Chapa Records and produced by radio/press pioneer Vicente Romero.
Loving both the sound of ALLMAN BROTHERS and progressive rock, BLOQUE presented a semi-prog disc with varied influences, styles, tempos and atmospheres,but built on the guitars of Respuela and Ruiz...and with two guitarist on the line-up it is reasonable that the musicianship is guitar-driven.The Respuela/Ruiz duo delivers some good solos, powerful grooves, a few fusion touches of the Spanish Prog school, while a couple of sweet ballads with acoustic guitars on the front add a more relaxed feeling, sometimes recalling TRIANA, if you add the atmospheric keyboards.Speaking of keyboards, Gutierrez, while he is a great keyboardist and uses a variety of keys including synths,mellotron and organ, actually remains under the shades of Respuela and Ruiz,though in a couple of moments he offers some nice and flashy synths.
The sound and influence of ALLMAN BROTHERS is what really dominates the album,which is a good rock album with some progressive leanings,but it can get a little bit boring for those who expect somekind of complex or more adventuruous listenings.Fortunately the band would soon switch into more progressive fields.Heading almost exclusively to fans of Spanish rock and guitar-based prog rock.
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
hdfisch
Prog Reviewer

The all instrumental 'Poemas de soledad' opens the album in a spacey Floydian atmosphere with synths followed by dreamy acoustic guitar. 'Alquimista soy', first track with vocals basically continues this rather mellow vein but adds up some rhythmic electric guitar. 'La danza del agua', another instrumental track exhibits really great symphonic rock with impressive playing on keyboards and electric guitar. The title track is in fact a quite nice ballade but anything spectacular neither. 'Quimérica laxitud' in contrast is a very energetic hard rocking one with good dual guitar playing. Second half of the disc consists of the multi-parted epic 'El silencio de las esferas' which is in fact the better half and presents more than 16 minutes of melodic and energetic symphonic rock with many rhythm changes and great playing on guitars, bass, keyboards and drums.
As a summary I'd like to say that this album is certainly a quite good example of Spanish symphonic rock but I'd hesitate to call it an essential one in general. I'd add another half star to my rating though if possible.
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
hdfisch
Prog Reviewer

"Humanidad indefensa" opens the album in a quite apocalyptic atmosphere with the sound of splintering glass followed by some children's crying and bombastic keyboards. The song continues in the best tradition of 70's Italian symphonic rock with staggering vocals accompanied by psychedelic electric guitar and tasteful keyboards. "Ya no hay nada en la calle" is kept in a more gentle and ballad-esque vein with acoustic guitar and mellow keys. "El llanto del poeta" has nicely sounding poetic lyrics sung by a children's choir combined with a great electric guitar solo. Next three short tracks represent in fact a mini-suite which starts rocking off in a quite heavy vein especially in its last part "El infierno esta aqui?" before Mellotron-choirs are segueing subtly into "Meditacion parte I" consisting of solemn and mystic synths sounds. This one actually forms together with "Descubrir el sentido terrible de la vidale" and "Meditacion parte II" another mini-suite. The same goes for the last three tracks presenting excellent dual guitar and keyboards combined with some partly spoken poetic and haunting lyrics.
As a conclusion I just can recommend this concept album highly to any lover of Italian symphonic Prog. If you want to check out this band go for this one first!
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
hdfisch
Prog Reviewer

Overall this debut is for sure not an essential addition for any Prog collection but still a fairly good one and might be interesting for those fellows oweing already their later releases.
Bloque Eclectic Prog
Review by
erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer

The first two tracks "Pesadilla de vivir" and "El poder de la libertad" are tasteful mid-tempo rock songs with strong vocals and nice work on guitar. The third "Anoranza" is very compellingl featuring a kind of bluesy symphonic rock with warm Spanish vocals and wonderful choir-Mellotron waves. The final song on side 1 entitled "Camino del universo" sounds pleasant and catchy delivering delicate and varied work on keyboards and fine rhythm guitar.
Side two starts with the catchy track "Tau ceti" featuring a tight and propulsive rhythm-section, lots of powerful and fiery electric guitar runs and some beautiful choir-Mellotron, what a captivating combination! Then "Detinido de la materia", an alternating piece with strong electric guitar work along powerful Spanish vocals, fiery saxophone and wonderful keyboard sounds. "Solo sentimiento" is a dreamy song delivering impressive choir-Mellotron, mellow organ waves, warm vocals and sensitive electric guitar play, very beautiful. The final track "Magico y salvaje" has a slow rhythm with a cathcy beat and fiery and heavy electric guitar runs, another original musical idea from this unique Spanish progrock band.